Fitchburg State College will be sending a contingent to Boston next Wednesday when Gov. Deval L. Patrick signs into law legislation establishing a state university system.
The signing ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Grand Staircase at the State House.
The Massachusetts Senate voted 34-2 last week to approve a bill establishing a state university system for the nine current Massachusetts State Colleges. The House of Representatives earlier passed it by a vote of 126 to 21.
Fitchburg State President Robert V. Antonucci said the delegation from Fitchburg will include students, staff and administrators. The event is also open to the public.
"This will be a historic day for our institution and the entire state college system," Antonucci said. "We also look forward to having a celebration on the Fitchburg State campus after students and faculty return for the fall semester."
The legislation will rename six state colleges – Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Framingham, Salem, Westfield and Worcester – as state universities. The three specialized state colleges– Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Massachusetts Maritime Academy – would retain their existing names but as part of a state university system.
As comprehensive teaching universities offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines, the state colleges all meet the criteria of being universities. Most of the institutions against which they are benchmarked are in fact universities. Forty-five other states already have made the transition to state university systems.
The change will not require any additional state funding because it does not change the colleges’ missions as teaching universities. The name change does not create any new programs or degrees.
The nine Massachusetts State Colleges are 4-year, baccalaureate and masters degree-granting teaching universities. Combined, the nine state colleges educate more than 50,000 students each year, and also claim more than 230,000 alumni.
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